Conveyer storing and separating device



May 11, 1965 M. c. TOURTELLOTTE CONVEYER STORING AND SEPARATING DEVICE 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1963 ATTO R NEYS M. c. TOURTELLOTTE3,182,785

CONVEYER STORING AND SEPARATING DEVICE May 11, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 21, 1963 INVENTOR.

MILLS C.TOURT ELLOTTE ,MWN M ATTORNEYS y 1965 M. c. TOURTELLOTTE3,182,785

CONVEYER STORING AND SEPARATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

MILLS G.TOURTELLOTTE ATTORNEYS y 1965 M. c. TOURTELLOTTE 3,132,785

CONVEYER STORING AND SEPARATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1963 4sheets-sheet 4 MASTER START -L-MS MASTER STO P 3: M ST F| G INVENTOR.

MILLS G.TOURTELLOTTE ATTORNEYS control devices and wiring necessary foratsarss CONVEYER STQRING AND SEPARATING DEVICE Mills C. Tourtellotte,1114 lnwood Drive, PALBOA 746, Richmond, Tex. Filed Jan. 21, 1963, Ser.No. 252,816 16 Claims. ,(Cl. 198-127) This invention relates .generally:to storing and separating apparatus and refers more particularlytoapparatus for the storing and subsequent automaticseparation fromstorage of regular bodies or articles conveyed on roller type conveyersof the type used in continuous pro duction lines.

It is an essential'object of this invention to provide a conveyerstoring and separating device having a unique combination of conveyer-sconstructed and arranged to store the articles and subsequently separatethe stored articles on signal in a speedy and efficient manner.

Another object is to provide a conveyer storing and separating devicein-which the articles or bodies are stored in-aminimum amount of spaceusing the full capacity of the conveyer system.

Another object is to provide a conveyer storing and separating devicehaving roller typeconveyers in which sliding friction is reduced to aminimum, thereby prolonging the useful life of the rollers.

Another object is to provide a, conveyer storing and separating devicein which thearticl'es may be imrnedi ately rolled out of storageand-separated from the other articles when the systemreceives asi'gnal.7

Another objectis to providea conveyerrstorin g and separating devicewhich may be used with other similar devices to feed into a commonsystem.

7 Another object is to provide a conveyer storing and separating devicehaving an inclined conveyer, a tilting conveyer atjthe low end of the"inclined conveyer to receive articles therefrom, and supported forpivotal move ment from aposition inclined at substantially the sameopposite sides of the conveyer. While only one channel 10a is .shown,these channels bear the same relation to each other as the channels a ofthe tilting conveyer 15 shown in FIGURE 3. The longitudinally spacedrollers 14 extend between and are journaled for free rotation by thechannels 10a. The conveyer 10 slopes downwardly at an angle such thattheelongated articles 13 will move by gravity on the free turningrollers toward the discharge end 1011. The articles are kept insinglefile endangle as the inclined conveyer to a horizontal position,

and a stop positioned to 'block articles on the tilting conveyer in theinclined position thereof, but to nclear the articles in the horizontalposition thereof.

Another object is to provide'a tilting-conveyer having both free turningand power driven rollers.

Another object is to provide means-for 'stopping the flow of articles onthe inclined conveyer'when the tilting conveyer is horizontal. if

Another object is'to providemeans for increasing the rolling frictionbetween the articles and-the power driven rollers on the tiltingconveyer. l 1

' Another object is to provide'i'nejans for returning the tiltingconveyer to its inclined position-immediately after the transfer of anarticle fromlthe i-lting conveyer..

Another object isfto providea'completely automatic system for thestorageand iriterrnittent separation of articles or bodies from storage.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as ithedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 'is a side elevational view "of apparatus em 'bodying myinvention, shown .in transfer orseparating position, with parts insectionon the line 1ll of FIG. 3.

FIGURE 2 is a view similarto FIGURE-l; but showing the apparatus instoring'position.

FIGURE '3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on'theline 4 4 of-"FIG- .URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic'wiring diagram showing the automatic operation.I

through the roller chain 18a. 1511' are adjustable toward and away fromeach other for to-end alignment within the narrow space between thechannels 13a. Preferably, the channels 1011 are adjustable toward andaway from each other toaccommodate different widths of articles. If thearticles were narrow and the conveyer wide, the articles mightnot lineup end for end.

The horizontal conveyer 11 is supported in fixed position by structureincluding frame member lla, and has the elongated, laterally spaced,parallel channels 111) which form the oppositesides of the conveyer.While only one channel 11b is shown, these channels bear the.

same relation to each other as the channels 15a of the tiltmg conveyer15 shown in FIGURE 3. Rollers 20 extend between and are journaled forrotation by the channels 11b. The rollers 20 are spaced apart along thelength ofconveyer 11 fromthe receiving end thereof. The

rollers 20 are adapted to bedriven by a motor 27' through roller 28 and29. Y

H The tilting conveyer 15 is made up of the elongated, laterally spaced,parallel channels 15a which form the opposite sides of the conveyer.Rollers 14 and 16 extend between and are journaled for rotation by thechannels The rollers 14 are-spaced apart along the length of conveyer 15and are free to turn." The conveyer 15 is carried by a frame 15b whichis supported for pivotal movement. about the horizontal axis of pm 150.As

shown, the pin 150 is carried by the frame bracket 12 on frame member12. The pin pivotally support bracket l5d on conveyer frame 15b. Thepivotalmounting permits conveyer 15 to move from the inclined FIG. 2 tothe horizontal-FIG. ,1 position. A motor 18 carried by the conveyerframe is provided to drive the rollers ti Preferably, the channels thesame reasons as channelsltla.

A pinch roller 25 is provided above driven rollers 16 to press thearticles '13 against the driven rollers when they are rotated toincrease the drive traction. The pinch roller 25 is supported for freerotation on a bracket 25a secured to the end of piston rod 24a whichextends from air cylinder 24 and is secured to the piston-24b within theair cylinder. Cylinder 24 is fixed to a supporting frame 240 carried bythe tilting conveyer 15. The frame 240 has a plate; 24d in position tobe contacted by a roller 26 carried by bracket 25a to guide the-pinchroller as it ,isinoved up and down by cylinder 24;

. The tilting conveyer 15 is moved about pivot 150 by an air cylinder 21pivoted at 21a to a bracket 21b on frame member 21c. A piston 21dreciprocates within cylinder 21 and has a rod 21e extending from thecylinder and pivoted to the discharge end of the tilting conveyer by a.pin 21 An air cylinder 22 is pivoted at 12b to a bracket 120 on framemember 12. The cylinder22 has a piston 22;:

Patented-May 11., 1965 I ment of brake 23.

The frame member 21c which supports the receiving end of the conveyer 11has a plate 17 extending across the discharge end of the tiltingconveyer which provides a stop. The upper edge of the stop plate 17 isdesignated 17a. Articles on the tilting conveyer engage the stop 17 Sothat rollers 16 willnot be continuously turning while an article 13 isresting against stop 17, limit switch when the-tilting conveyer is inthe FIGURE 2 position aligned with conveyer 11), so that the articlesare held back or stored. When the tilting conveyer 15 is raised intoalignment with conveyer 11, as shown in FIGURE 1,

the articlesclear stop 17 and can be transferred to conveyer 11 over theupper edge 17;; of the stop.

An air circuit diagram is shown in FIGURE 6. Air under pressure isdelivered to the cylinders 21 and 22 from a line 21g through valve 21hcontrolled by solenoid G. The valve normally assumes the position shownunder the pressure of spring 21 but will reverse the flow upon theenergization of solenoid G. The line 21k beyond the valve extends to theupper end of cylinder 21 through the line 21m which has a restriction R.Air delivered to the rod end of cylinder 21 will follow the bypasscircuit 21n around the restriction for greater speed of flow, the checkvalve CK permitting flow in a direction toward the cylinder only. Theline 21p leads to the piston end of cylinder 21 through a restriction R,although when air is delivered to the piston end of the cylinder it Theline 21k also leads to the rod end of cylinder 22 through line 22d whichhas the restriction R.- The line 22c extends through a restriction R tothe piston end of cylinder 22. The bypass circuits 22f and 22g areprovided around the restrictions R in the two lines 22d and The air line24m extends through valve 24c to the air cylinder 24. Valve 24c normallyassumes the position shown under the pressure of spring 24 but isshifted by the energization of solenoid H. Leading from the valve is aline 24g to the rod end of cylinder 24 through a restriction'R. Thepiston end of the cylinder 24 receives air via line 24h through arestriction R. Bypass circuits 24 and 24k are provided around therestrictions in lines 24g and 24/1.

The bypass circuits all have check valves in them preventing flow awayfrom the cylinders with which they are associated, thereby allowing therestrictions to control the rate at which air leaves the cylinders. Theair leaving the cylinders escapes from the valves to atmosphere asindicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 6.

The conveyer 1%) may be loaded from the left by any suitable equipment,not shown. 7 The articles 13 will roll down the conveyer 10 from left toright, end-to-end, because'the rollers 14 are free to rotate. Duringthis time, the tilting conveyer will be tilted at substantially the sameangle as the conveyer 10, as shown in FIGURE 2, to form in eflfect acontinuation of conveyer 11). The articles will roll over the freelyturning rollers 14 on the tilting conveyer. The two driven rollers16should be 'under power when the articles engage them so that the leadingarticle will advance toward and engage the fixed stop 17. The automaticcontrol apparatus to be described hereinafter provides for this. Shouldthe driven rollers 16 not be turning, they might have sufiicient drag toprevent the articles from reaching the stop 17. It is important that thearticles engage the stop 17 so that there will be two power drivenrollers 16 under the article to drive it from the tilting conveyer 15when that conveyer is aligned with the power driven conveyer 11.

-whenever the equipment to the right of conveyer 11 gives the signal.

When a signal is received for an article 13, the following sequence ofevents occurs. The conveyer 15 is caused to align itself with conveyer11 by air cylinder 21. Thus as seen in FIGURE 1, the tilting conveyerwill swing up to horizontal position. Simultaneously, air cylinder 22operates to wedge the brake 23 between two rollers of the inclinedconveyer 10 to keep them from rotating. Brake 23 causes articles 13 todrag on the two rollers 14 and this in turn holds all articles to theleft from exerting force on those articles to the right.

When cylinders 21 and 22 operate, the rollers 20 on conveyer 11 arerotated by motor 27. If desired, rollers 20 could already be rotating.When conveyer 15 is aligned with conveyer 11, limit switch 49 will bereleased causing air cylinder 24 and motor 18 to operate. Air cylinder24 causes the pinch roller 25 to increase the .rolling friction betweenarticle 13 and driving rollers 16.

In some instances, the pinch roller 25 may not be required, since veryoften there is enough rolling friction without it. Therefore, a selectorswitch can be included in the electrical circuit to render the cylinder24 inoperative when desired.

As soon as rollers 16 begin to rotate, the article 13 engaging thoserollers is transferred from conveyer 15 over stop 1'7 to conveyer 11.The article immediately behind the one separated and transferredtoconveyer 11 should not advance due to the fact that the tiltingconveyer 15 is horizontal at this time and also because the brake 23prevents the remaining stored 'articles from exerting any driving force.However, this article may creep slightly, as discussed more fullyhereinafter.

As the article 13 passes over the stop 17 and onto conveyer 11,.itsleading end strikes the operating member 530: of a limit switch 53. Thiscauses electrical circuit preparations. When the trailing end of article13 passes beyond limit switch 53, the limit switch is released to signalcylinders 21, 22 and 24 to retract and to prepare for the deenergizationof motor 18. When air cylinders 21, 22 and 2d retract, the articles 13to the left of brake 23 are free to roll forward. Motor 18 will bedeenergized when the next article from the left makes contact with limitswitch,47. The motor 13 will coast sutliciently to allow rollers 16 toturn and carry the next article forward against stop 17.

The limit switch 53 is located very close to tilting conveyer 15 so thatthe tilting conveyer will be signalled to descend to the FIGURE 2position as soon as possible. This close timing is desirable to keep thenext article from entering conveyer 11 in the event it should becreeping down from conveyer 10.

The operation of the device will now be described in greater detail withreference to the electrical pneumatic diagrams shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.Let it be assumed that the apparatus is in the FIGURE 2 position eventhough FIGURE 5 shows no article 13 under limit switch 47. When theoperator depresses the master start button MS, the relay M energizes andremains energized after release of'the master start button through thesealing cirrelay 54L latched.

'ment beyond conveyor 11.

Since the operating memberfi7aof limit switch 4 7 is engaged by anarticle 13 on conveyor 10, this limit switch under the article 13 on thetilting conveyor will not be turning while that article is up againststop 17.

When the operator depresses the automaticcycle push button AC, thefollowing events occur: Relays 1A and 'SIU become energized and the redpilot lamp glows.

Relay 1A has contacts which close in a sealing circuit around theautomatic cycle push button AC to seal in the circuit to relay 1A,.after the automatic cycle push button is released. 'Relay 1A alsohascontacts which close in the circuits to latching relay 54L, relays 4Gand 27M, preparing the circuits to those relays, and opens its contactsto relay44.

Relay 51U. is momentarily closed by the second contact AC1 of theautomatic cycle push button to unlatch relay 51L ifit should be latchedup. Relay 51L in turn opens a circuit to relay 50, opens a circuit torelay 54U, and closes'a circuit to relay 54L, by the operation of itscontacts in those circuits. Relay 54U will have unlatched relay 54L ifit should be latched up. Relayfitl de-energizes and closes its contactsto relay 40. Relay 54L may now latch up since relay 54U is de-energized.

Normally, relay 51L would have been unlatched and However, if theoperator would happen to depress the master stop button MST or a handbutton HB at an odd moment when the "circuit was sequencing through itscycle, relay 51L could become latched and relay 54L unlatched. Hence theneed for the contacts AC1 of the automatic cycle pushbutton in thecircuits to relays 51U and54L.

When relay 54L latches, a circuit is, established to relay 4t). Thelimit switch 4 6 is inthe position shown in FIGURE 5 when the" conveyorll to the right is ready for another article 13, tosignal the transferof the next article. In this position of limit switch 46, it opens .thecircuit to relay 54L and close's'fthe circuit to relay 49.

Howeven'in the event that there is an article 13 on conveyor 11 that hasnot been discharged, limit switch 4 6' wouldbein its other positionopening the circuit to relay 40 and closing the circuit. to relay 54L.111 such a case,

' relay 44 would not become energized and the device would not separateor transfer the next article to conveyor 11. I

i the circuit to'rnotor 18'. Relay 44 closes the circuit to ,With outthenormally closed contact 56, the pinch roll I 25 would stay down untilthe tilting conveyer is opened If such is the case, the motor 27 for therollers 20 of conevyor 11 can be operatedby manually pressing. pushbutton PB in the circuit to relay 27M to discharge the article onconveyor 11 past the limit switch 46 to release it and allow itftoassume theposition shown in FIGURE 5. .Limitswitch 464s not shown inFIGURES 1 and 2 because it is operated by aipe'rmissive mechanicalarrange- Norrnally, however, the article 13 previouslytransferredtoconveyor 11 will be discharged in the normal course of events, and whendischarged will cause limit switch 46 to automatically reset to theFIGURE 5 positionto signal the separating apparatus to transfer anotherarticle 13 to conveyor 11.

When relay 40 is energized, a sealing circuit to the relay is closedthrough one of its own contacts, and other contacts of the relay closetoenergize the-circuits to relay 27M and solenoid G. a t r Solenoid G,when energized, shifts valve 21h to cause air cylinder 21 to raisetilting conveyor 15 into horizontal alignment with conveyor 11. Thisoperation of valve 21h also operates aircylinder 22 to apply the brake23 to two of the rollers 14 of conveyor 1th to hold back the articles13.

When conveyor 15 is horizontal, 'itreleases theoperating member 49a "oflimit switch 49 which will close a circuit to relays 18M and 44 providedtheir selector switches SS are in the ON and AUTO positions respectively. Relay 18M prepares its sealing circuit by the closing of its contacttherein, andhas other contacts which close solenoid H through itscontacts in the latter circuit. Hence limit switch 49 starts motor 18and operates solenoid H when the tilting conveyor swings to a horizontalposition.

Motor 18 powers rollers 16 to drive the article 13 onto conveyor 11,over the upper edge of stop 17. The rollers 2% of conveyor 11 arealready rotating, having been started by the motor 27 in response toenergization of relay 27M. These rollers turn at the same peripheralspeed to reduce sliding friction, and hence prolong their useful life.

Solenoid H, which was energized simultaneously with motor 18, shiftsvalve 24c to cause air cylinder 24 to press ythe pinch roller 25 down onthe article being advanced by power rollers 16.

Article 13, as it advances, will strike the operating member 5311 oflimit switch 53, which will close the limit switch to completeith ecircuits to relay 51L and open its contacts in the circuit to relay 59.Relay 51L will latch up, closing its contacts to relay 5t opening itscontacts to relay 54L, and closing its contacts to relay 54U to unlatchrelay 54L. Relay 54L opens its contacts in a circuit to relay 49.However, relay 40 does not drop out at this time because a circuit isstill maintained through the closed contacts of the de-energized relay50.

Before the operating member 53a of limit switch 53 slides oil thetrailing end of the article being transferred, theoperating member 47aof limit switch 47 slides oh the end of the article to'open a circuit torelay 43. Relay 43 de-energizes, opens its contacts to relay 40, closesa sealing circuit ot relay 18M, and opens the circuit to relay 44. Relay44 de-energizes and through its contacts opens the circuit to solenoidH. Hence'solenoid H causes cylinder 214 to retract the pinch roller 25when the trailing end of article 13 moves beyond and releases theoperating member 470: of limit switch 47. l 7

Relay Stlhas a normally closed contact in the circuit of relay fie-[forthe following reasons. ,Limit switch 47 should be as close to pinch roll25 as practical. However, if the articles are quite short, it ispossible that limit switch 47 will stay engaged after an article hasbeen transferred to co'nyeyor 11, because of the practical limita- Itions oi locating limit switch 47 too close to roll 25.

limit switoh' lil. If the pinch roll stays down too long, itmiglrtQinterfere with the next article rolling up to stop 17a. Therefore.with the normally closed contact of relay 5%), relay 44 may be'de-energized, as is relay 49, as soon as the trailing end of thearticle passes limit switch 53. By the time this normally closed contactof relay 5t) closes again, limit switch 49 will be open before thearticle engages limit switch 45 to'energize relay SllU. When 51Lunlatches it opens up relay 5% When the article 13 has traveled farenough so that its trailing end moves beyond and releases the operatingmember 53a of limit switch 53, the switch 53 assumes the -positionillustrated in FIGURE 5 to open the circuit to relay 51L and close thecircuit to relay 50. Relay Etlopens the circuit, through its contacts,to relay 40. It may also operate a signal of some kind to the right ofconveyer 11 to indicate that an article 13 has been transferred and'isready for further processing.

Relay it being now de-energized by the movement of the separated articlebeyond limit'switch 53, opens its cont-acts in its sealing circuihopensthe circuit to relay 27M, and likewise opens the circuit to solenoid G.

Relay 27M tie-energizes to open the circuit to and deenergizemotor'27 tostop rollers 2. Relay 27M also opens its contacts in a circuit to relayI8M,.but the latter relay 're m-ains energized through the contacts ofrelay 43.

The de-energization of solenoidG reverses air cylinder at to lower thetilting conveyor 15 to the FIGURE '1 position in which it is angled atthe sameslope as conveyor fill. The air cylinder 22 is also reversed torelease the brake 2'3 fromthetwo rollers 14; --Whenconveyer 1'5 7 is inthe inclined FIGURE 1 position, limit switch l9 opens. M

When the next article moving down strikes the operating member 47a oflimit switch 47, it closes the circuit to relay 4-3, and the contacts ofthe latter relay open in the circuit to relay 18M to de-energize it.Relay 43 also has contacts in the circuit to relays 4t and 44 whichopen.

The de-energiza tion of relay 18M, when the next article contactoperating member 47a of limit switch 47, causes the relay to open itssealing contacts and its contacts in the circuit to motor 13, takingpower off rollers 16. The motor 18, however, has enough momentum to.coast sufficiently to allow the next article to advance up to andengage stop 17.

When the transferred article on conveyer 11 is discharged, limit switch46 will be reset to the position illustrated in FIGURE opening itscircuit to relay 54L and closing the circuits to relay 40, for a repeatof the cycle.

If it should happen that conveyors l0 and 15 become empty, and the poweris turned off to relay 18M, the relay would lose its scaling circuit bythe opening of its contact therein. There-fore, contacts 2 are providedin the circuit of relay 13M. These contacts will close when article-sagain start to move down conveyer 10 to reestablish the circuit to relay18M to maintain the power on rollers 16 as previously explained.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A conveyer storing and separating device comprising an elongatedgravity-type conveyer sloping downward towards its discharge end andhaving free turning transverse rollers spaced apart along the lengththereof, a tilting conveyer having a receiving end adjacent thedischarge end of said gravity-type conveyer to receive articlestherefrom and pivoted for movement about a horizontal axis near itsreceiving end, said tilting conveyer having transverse idler rollersnear its receiving end and at least =one power driven roller near itsdischarge end, power means for operating said power driven roller, powermeans for pivoting said tilting conveyer between a horizontal positionand an inclined position in which it extends downward toward its owndischarge end at substantially the same slope as said gravity-typeconveyer, a third con- I veyer having its receiving end adjacent thedischarge end of said tilting conveyer when the latter is horizontal toreceive articles therefrom, a limit switch operable to energize thefirstanentioned power means to operate said powerdriven roller inresponse to the movement of said tilting conveyer to horizontal positionand a stop positioned to block the transfer of articles from saidtilting conveyer to said third conveyer in the inclined position of saidtilting conveyer but to clear such articles for transfer in thehorizontal position of said tilting conveyer.

'2. The conveyer storing and separating device defined in claim 1,including a limit switch operated by an article completely transferredfrom said tilting conveyer to said third conveyer for operating thesecond-mentioned power means to return said tilting conveyer to itsinclined position.

3. The conveyer storing and separating device defined in claim 2,wherein a brake is provided for at least one of the rollers on saidinclined conveyer to stop the flow of articles thereon when said tiltingconveyer is in horizontal position, said last mentioned limit switchbeing eifective to release said brake simultaneously with the movementof said tilting conveyer back to inclined position.

4. A conveyer storing and separating device comprising an inclinedconveyer sloping downward toward its discharge end, a tilting conveyerat the discharge end of said inclined conveyer to receive articlestherefrom, said tilting conveyer in one position extending from thedischarge end of said inclined conveyer at a downward. slope, a stopadapted to engage and block articles on said tilting conveyer in thesaid one position thereof,

8 means for pivoting said tilting conveyer to clear-said stop, saidtilting conveyer having longitudinally spaced article supportingrollers, and power means for driving at least one of said rollers.

5. A conveyer storing and separating device comprising an inclinedconveyer sloping downward towards its discharge end, a tilting conveyerat the discharge end of said inclined conveyer to receive articlesthere-from, said tilting conveyer in one position extending from thedischarge end of said inclined con eyer at a downward slope, a stopadapted to engage and block articles on said tilting conveyer in thesaid one position thereof, means for pivoting said tilting conveyer toclear said stop, and means for pivoting said tilting conveyer to thesaid one position thereof in response to the movement of an articlecompletely beyond said stop.

6. A conveyer storing and separating device comprising an inclinedconveyer sloping downward toward its discharge end, a tilting conveyerat the discharge end of said inclined conveyer to receive articlestherefrom, said tilting conveyer in one position extending from thedischarge end of said inclined conveyer at a'down-ward slope, a stopadapted to engage and block articles on said tilting conveyer in thesaid one position thereof, means for pivoting said tilting conveyer toclear said stop, and means for preventing the movement of articles alongsaid inclined conveyer when said tilting conveyer is pivoted to clearsaid stop.

7. A conveyer storing and separating device comprising an inclinedgravity type roller conveyer sloping downward toward its discharge end,a tilting conveyer at the discharge end of a said inclined conveyer toreceive articles therefrom, means piv otally mounting said tiltingconveyer for movement about a horizontal axis adjacent said dischargeend of said inclined conveyer, said tilting conveyer in oneposition ofpivotal movement extending from the discharge end of said inclinedconveyer toward its .own discharge end at substantially the samedownward ;c-harge end of said tilting conveyer adapted to engage andblock articles on said tilting conveyer in the said one positionthereof, means for pivoting said tilting conveyer to substantially ahorizontal position clearing said stop, said tilting conveyer havinglongitudinally spaced article supporting rol-lers,'and power means fordriving at least one of said rollers adjacent the discharge end of saidtilting conveyer, the remainder of said rollers being mounted to turnfreely.

8. The conveyer storing and separating device defined in claim 7,wherein means are provided for actuating said power means in response tothe pivoting of said tilting conveyer to substantially horizontalposition.

9. The conveyer storing and separating device defined in claim 8,wherein means are provided for automatically pivoting said tiltingconveyer to the said one position thereof in which it slopes downwardlyin response to the movement of an article by said power-driven rollcompletely beyond said stop.

10. The conveyer storing and separating device defined in claim 9wherein means are provided for stopping said power means in response tothe pivoting of said tilting conveyer to the said one position thereofand the movement of another article onto said tilting conveyer.

11. The conveyer storing and separating device defined in claim '7,wherein a pressure roller is mounted on said tilting conveyer above saidpower driven roller, and means are provided to advance said pressureroller toward said power driven roller when the latter is rotated topress an article into greater friction contact with said power drivenroller.

12. The conveyer storing and separating device defined in claim 7wherein said inclined conveyer has a plurality of longitudinally spacedarticle supporting rollers supported for free rotation and brake meansare provided to prevent movement of articles along said inclinedconveyer when said tilting conveyer is pivoted to substantia-lhorizontal position, said brake means including a braking elementengageable with one of the rollers of said inclined conveyer near thedischarge end thereof to prevent the free rotation thereof.

13. A conveyer storing and separating device com- 7 prising an elongatedgravity type conveyer sloping downward toward its discharge end andhaving free turning transverse roilers spaced apart along the lengththereof, a tilting conveyer having a receiving end adjacent thedischarge end of said gravity type conveyer to receive articlestherefrom and pivoted for movement about a horizontal axis near itsreceiving end, power means for pivoting said tilting conveyer between aninclined position in which it extends downward toward its own dischargeend at substantially the same slope as said gravity type conveyer and ahorizontal position, a third conveyer having 7 in claim 13, whereinmeans are provided for operating.

said first and second mentioned power means to simultaneously set saidbrake and move said tiiting conveyer to horizontal position, and meansresponsive to the discharge of an article from said tilting conveyerto-said third conveyer for operating said first and second mentionedpower means to release said brake and move said tilting conveyer to itsinclined position.

15. A conveyer storing and separating device comprising an elongatedgravity type conveyer sloping downward toward its discharge end andhaving free turning transverse rollers spaced apart along the lengththereof, a tilting conveyer having a receiving end adjacent thedischarge end of said gravity type conveyer to receive articlestherefrom and pivoted for movement about a horizontal axis near itsreceiving end, power means for pivoting said tilting conveyer between aninclined position in which it extends downward toward its own dischargeend at substantially the same slope as said gravity type conveyer and ahorizontal position, a third conveyer having its receiving end adjacentthe discharge end of said tilting conveyer when the latter is horizontalto receive articles therefrom, a stop positioned to block the transferof articles from said tilting conveyer to said third conveyer in theinclined position of said tilting conveyer but to clear such articlesfor transfer in the horizontal position of said tiLt-ing conveyer, saidtiiting conveyer having idler rollers near its receiving end and atleast one power driven roiier near its discharge end, and power meansfor operating said power driven roller in response to movement of saidtilting conveyer to horizontal position.

16. The conveyer storing and separating device defined in claim 15,wherein means are provided tor stopping said Last-mentioned power meansin response to the pivot ing of said tilting conveyer to said inclinedposition thereof and the movement of another article onto said tiltingconveyer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,425,599 8/22Lister 19335 2,118,195 5/38 Hogue 19335 2,413,979 1/47 Lamb 198-1273,058,564 10/62 Kubat.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. LA BORDE, Examiner.

1. A CONVEYOR STORING AND SEPARATING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATEDGRAVITY-TYPE CONVEYOR SLOPING DOWNWARD TOWARDS ITS DISCHARGE END ANDHAVING FREE TURNING TRANSVERSE ROLLERS SPACED APART ALONG THE LENGTHTHEREOF, A TILTING CONVEYER HAVING A RECEIVING END ADJACENT THEDISCHARGE END OF SAID GRAVITY-TYPE CONVEYOR TO RECEIVE ARTICLESTHEREFROM AND PIVOTED FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS NEAR ITSRECEIVING END, SAID TILTING CONVEYER HAVING TRANSVERSE IDLER ROLLERSNEAR ITS RECEIVING END AND AT LEAST ONE POWER DRIVEN ROLLER NEAR ITSDISCHARGE END, POWER MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID POWER DRIVEN ROLLER, POWERMEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID TILTING CONVEYER BETWEEN A HORIZONTAL POSITIONAND AN INCLINED POSITION IN WHICH IT EXTENDS DOWNWARD TOWARD ITS OWNDISCHARGE END AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SLOPE AS SAID GRAVITY-TYPECONVEYOR, A THIRD CONVEYER HAVING ITS RECEIVING END ADJACENT THEDISCHARGE END OF SAID TILTING CONVEYER WHEN THE LATTER IS HORIZONTAL TORECEIVE ARTICLES THEREFROM, A LIMIT SWITCH OPERABLE TO ENERGIZE THEFIRST-MENTIONED POWER MEANS TO OPERATE SAID POWER DRIVEN ROLLER INRESPONSE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID TILTING CONVEYOR TO HORIZONTAL POSITIONAND A STOP POSITIONED TO BLOCK THE TRANSFER OF ARTICLES FROM SAIDTILTING CONVEYER TO SAID THIRD CONVEYER IN THE INCLINED POSITION OF SAIDTILTING CONVEYOR BUT TO CLEAR SUCH ARTICLES FROM TRANSFER IN THEHORIZONTAL POSITION OF SAID TILTING CONVEYO